PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — The canine bark and stare as Kim Jong-kil approaches the rusty cages housing the big, short-haired animals he sells for his or her meat. Kim opens a door and pets one canine’s neck and chest.
Kim says he’s happy with the canine meat farm that has supported his household for 27 years, however is upset over rising makes an attempt by politicians and activists to outlaw the enterprise, which he’s turning over to his kids.
“It’s extra than simply feeling dangerous. I completely oppose these strikes, and we’ll mobilize all our means to withstand it,” Kim, 57, stated in an interview at his farm in Pyeongtaek metropolis, simply south of Seoul.
Canine meat consumption is a centuries-old observe on the Korean Peninsula and has lengthy been seen as a supply of stamina on sizzling summer time days. It is neither explicitly banned nor legalized in South Korea, however increasingly individuals need it prohibited. There’s rising public consciousness of animal rights and worries about South Korea’s worldwide picture.
The anti-dog meat marketing campaign not too long ago acquired an enormous enhance when the nation’s first woman expressed her assist for a ban and two lawmakers submitted payments to remove the canine meat commerce.
“Foreigners assume South Korea is a cultural powerhouse. However the extra Ok-culture will increase its worldwide standing, the larger shock foreigners expertise over our canine meat consumption,” stated Han Jeoungae, an opposition lawmaker who submitted laws to outlaw the canine meat business final month.
Prospects for passage of an anti-dog meat legislation are unclear due to protests by farmers, restaurant house owners and others concerned within the canine meat business. Surveys counsel that one in three South Koreans opposes such a ban, although most individuals don’t eat canine meat anymore.
Canines are additionally eaten in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, North Korea and a few African international locations, together with Ghana, Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria.
Earlier this month, Indonesian authorities introduced the tip of canine and cat slaughter at an animal market on the island of Sulawesi following a yearslong marketing campaign by native activists and world celebrities. The Tomohon Excessive Market will turn out to be the primary such market in Indonesia to go canine and cat meat-free, in accordance with the anti-animal cruelty group Humane Society Worldwide.
South Korea’s canine meat business receives extra worldwide consideration due to its popularity as a rich, ultra-modern democracy. It is usually the one nation with industrial-scale farms. Most farms in South Korea have greater than 500 canine, in accordance with a canine farmers’ affiliation.
Throughout a latest go to, Kim’s farm, one of many nation’s largest with 7,000 canine, appeared comparatively clear however there was a robust stench in some areas. All canine are stored in elevated cages and are fed with meals waste and floor rooster. They’re hardly ever launched for train and sometimes are offered for meat one 12 months after they’re born.
Kim stated two of his kids, age 29 and 31, are operating the farm with him, and that enterprise has been going fairly properly. He stated the canine bred for his or her meat are totally different from pets, an concept opposed by activists.
It is troublesome now to seek out canine meat eating places in Seoul’s bustling downtown, although many nonetheless exit within the countryside.
“I solely earn one-third of the cash I used to make. Younger individuals don’t come right here. Solely ailing outdated individuals come for lunch,” stated Yoon Chu-wol, 77, the proprietor of a canine meat restaurant in Seoul’s Kyungdong conventional market. “I inform my aged prospects to come back and eat my meals extra ceaselessly earlier than it’s banned.”
Farmers additionally face rising scrutiny from officers and more and more damaging public opinion. They complain that officers go to them repeatedly in response to complaints filed by activists and residents over alleged animal abuse and different wrongdoing. Kim stated greater than 90 such petitions have been filed in opposition to his farm throughout a latest four-month span.
Son Received Hak, normal secretary of the canine farmers’ affiliation, stated many farms have collapsed in recent times due to falling canine meat costs and weaker demand. He thinks that is a results of activist campaigns and unfair media experiences specializing in farms with inferior situations. Some observers, nonetheless, say consumption of canine meat was already declining, with youthful individuals staying away from it.
“Fairly truthfully, I would prefer to stop my job (as a farmer) tomorrow. We will’t confidently inform our youngsters that we’re elevating canine,” Son stated. “When my associates referred to as me, they stated ‘Hey, are you continue to operating a canine meat farm? Isn’t it unlawful?’”
The variety of farms throughout South Korea has dropped by half from a couple of years in the past to about 3,000 to 4,000, and about 700,000 to 1 million canine are slaughtered annually, a decline from a number of million 10 to twenty years in the past, in accordance with the canine farmers’ affiliation. Some activists argue that the farmers’ estimates are an exaggeration meant to point out their business is just too huge to destroy.
In late 2021, South Korea launched a government-civilian job power to think about outlawing canine meat on the suggestion of then-President Moon Jae-in, a pet lover. The committee, whose members embrace farmers and animal rights activists, has met greater than 20 instances however hasn’t reached any settlement, apparently due to disputes over compensation points.
Agriculture officers refused to reveal the discussions within the closed-door conferences. They stated the federal government desires to finish canine meat consumption primarily based on a public consensus.
In April, first woman Kim Keon Hee, the spouse of present President Yoon Suk Yeol, stated in a gathering with activists that she hopes for an finish to canine meat consumption. Famers responded with rallies and formal complaints in opposition to Kim for allegedly hurting their livelihoods.
Han, the lawmaker, stated she “extremely positively appraises” influential figures talking out in opposition to canine meat consumption.
Han stated her invoice presents assist packages for farmers who agree to shut their farms. They’d be entitled to cash to dismantle their services, vocational coaching, employment help and different advantages, she stated.
Ju Yeongbong, an official of the farmers’ affiliation, stated farmers need to proceed for about 20 extra years till older individuals, their principal prospects, die, permitting the business to naturally disappear. Observers say most farmers are additionally of their 60s to 70s.
Borami Search engine marketing, a director of the South Korea workplace of the Humane Society Worldwide, stated she opposes the continued killing of thousands and thousands of canine for such a protracted interval. “Letting this silent cruelty to (canine) be dedicated in South Korea doesn’t make sense,” Search engine marketing stated.
“(Canine meat consumption) is just too anachronistic, has parts of cruelty to animals and hinders our nationwide development,” stated Cheon JinKyung, head of Korea Animal Rights Advocates in Seoul.